Finca EL FORN

Presentation Setting and location Air photos Access

Natural environment Vegetation and Fauna Zoo park Landscape and Climate

Leisure and Activities Leisure activities Golf courses Aquatic activities Places of interest

Tourist localities Cultural activities Monuments Romanic Gothic Baroque Modernism Museums Museums and archaeology

Characteristics El Forn Description Hunting and roads Catalogued farmhouses El Forn New house in El Forn Ca l’Andreu Can Puntes Can Crosta Cal Gras Can Ribera Can Cotoliu La Gironella

Facilities Main facilities Other facilities Machinery

Presentation Setting and location

El Forn is set in the heart of the Alto Ampurdán in the north of Gerona province, Catalonia (Spain). The farm is located in the municipal boundaries of Cistella and Terrades. The nearest locality is the town of Terrades at a distance of 1.7 km by road and forest track. The most important population centre in the area and the capital of the comarca is Figueras, only 15 km from the farm. Close by are the towns of Cistella (6.2 km), Llers (6.6 km), Sant Llorenç de la Muga (6.7 km) and Albanyà (13 km).

The farm is located between the interior mountains of the Pre-Pyrenees of Gerona and the coast, with views of the Costa Brava, and especially Creus Cape and Gulf of Rosas.

El Forn is surrounded by cordilleras of great beauty, such as Les Salines and L’Albera, declared Spaces of Natural Interest. The farm is also very near to the spaces of the P.E.I.N. network of L’Alta Garrotxa, Creus Cape and the Estanys de la Jonquera space, which make an incomparable setting.

The most outstanding heights are Sierra de L’Estela and Serra Pelada, reaching 540 meters over sea level, along with Santa Magdalena mountain, whose 519 meters are crowned by a chapel. Five km north of the farm is Boadella reservoir, a magnificent sight amidst the surrounding mountains. The incomparable Aiguamolls of l'Empordà Natural Park is a short way to the south.

Access to the farm is by a 500-metre forest track which starts at pk.1,2 of local highway GIV-5102 between Terrades and Cistella.

Presentation Setting and location Air photos

Presentation Access

Natural environment Vegetation and Fauna

The characteristic vegetation of the farm is the Mediterranean model. The farm’s principal woodland species are white pine (Pinus halepensis) and holly oak (Quercus ilex), although oak, rowan and maritime pine are also present.

The shrub species found on the farm are very varied, with communities of tree strawberry, rosemary, rock rose, heather, box, lavender, asparagus, laurustine, buckthorn, mock privet, mastic and escobon.

Wild boars, fallow deer and moufflons are the animal species that inhabit the territory in significant numbers. Small mammals are also present, such as wild rabbits, foxes, squirrels, badgers, genets, weasels, hares, field mice and shrews. However, bird fauna is the most visible and frequent animal species. The territory is home in open areas to the kestrel, lesser spotted eagle, little owl, heron, thrush, red partridge and the citril finch.

Individuals observed include the peregrine falcon, common buzzard, eagle owl, blackbird, woodpigeon, mistle thrush, robin, etc. Amphibians and reptiles are also important in the area. The most common amphibians are salamanders, newts, various species of toads, frogs and tortoises.

Natural environment Zoo park

A private zoo has been set up inside the farm. The open-range zoo, which is completely fenced, is home to moufflons, fallow deer, goats, Iberian pigs, ducks and other animals.

There is also a small a small shed, currently occupied by a cow, which provides temporary shelter for a large animal.

Natural environment Landscape and Climate

The panorama from El Forn combines the mountainous character of the setting with the coastal plains and the sea which can be seen from the highest parts of the farm. The view from the farm spans the mountains, Creus Cape and the Gulf of Rosas on the Costa Brava. On clear days the view is spectacular.

The climate of the area is considered Mediterranean maritime sub-humid, characterised by the absence of winter months and the existence of only one or two sub-winter months, without extreme temperatures. The absolute maximum in July is 34.7ºC and the absolute minimum in January is -2.7ºC. The average maximum is 24.3ºC and the average minimum 8.2ºC.

The Tramontana is the north wind, which is characteristic of the Alto Ampurdán comarca, appearing an average of 80 times a year mostly in spring and autumn, occasionally becoming strong. The other typical wind of this region is the Levante, a humid southeast wind that brings rain also in spring and autumn.

Leisure and activities Leisure activities Golf courses

 Golf courses  P&P courses

1 Peralada Golf Club 1 P&P Golf Peralada 2 Torremirona Golf Club 2 P&P Golf Garrotxa 3 Empordà Golf Club 3 Mas Pagès Golf (P&P and Par 3) 4 Golf Serres de Pals 4 P&P Gualta 5 Club de Golf Pals 5 P&P Franciac Golf 6 Club de Golf Girona 6 P&P Platja d'Aro 7 Club de Golf d'Aro 7 Golf Centre Solius (P&P) 8 Club de Golf Costa Brava 8 P&P Ecogolf Lloret 9 PGA Golf de Catalunya 9 Golf Papalus Lloret (P&P) 10 Club de Golf Camprodon 11 Golf Fontanals de Cerdanya 12 Reial Club de Golf de Cerdanya

Leisure and activities Leisure activities Aquatic activities

 Immersion centres  Marinas

1 Portbou 1 Llançà 2 St. Miquel de Colera 2 Port de la Selva 3 Llançà 3 Cadaquès 4 Port de la Selva 4 Roses 5 Roses 5 Empuriabrava 6 Empuriabrava 6 L'Escala 7 L'Escala 7 L'Estartit 8 L'Estartit 8 Begur 9 Begur 9 Tamariu 10 Llafranc 10 Calella de Palafrugell 11 Palamós 11 Llafranc 12 Platja d'Aro 12 Palamòs 13 St. Feliu de Guíxols 13 St. Feliu de Guíxols 14 Lloret de Mar 14 Tossa de Mar 15 Blanes 15 Lloret de Mar 16 Blanes

Leisure and activities Leisure activities Places of interest

 Caminos de Ronda  Vía verde  Natural spaces 1 Llançà 1 Carril Bici Girona-St Feliu 1 L'Albera Natural Site of 2 El Port de la Selva National Interest 3 Cadaqués 2 Girona-Olot “Carrilet” Route 2 Cap of Creus Natural Park 4 Roses 5 L'Escala 3 Iron Route Ripoll-St Joan 3 Los Aiguamolls of l'Empordà 6 Begur de les Abadesses Natural Park 7 Calella-Llafranc 4 Illes Medes Marine Reserve 8 Palamós 9 Platja d'Aro - St. Antoni 5 El Montseny Natural Park 10 S'Agaró 11 Tossa de Mar 6 Garrotxa Volcanic Natural 12 Lloret de Mar Park 7 Cadí-Moixeró Natural Park

Leisure and activities Leisure activities Tourist localities

 Localities 1 Portbou 13 La Bisbal d'Empordà 25 Sta. Coloma de Farners 2 Peralada 14 Cassà de la Selva 26 Breda 3 St. Pere de Rodes 15 Tossa de Mar 27 Setcases 4 Cadaqués 16 Lloret de Mar 28 Camprodon 5 Figueres 17 Blanes 29 St. Joan de les Abadesses 6 Empuriabrava 18 Castellfollit de la Roca 30 Ribes de Freser 7 L'Escala 19 Besalú 31 Ripoll 8 Torroella de Montgrí 20 Olot 32 Llívia 9 Ullastret 21 Sta. Pau 33 Puigcerdà 10 Pals 22 Banyoles 34 Alp 11 Begur 23 Amer 35 Das 12 Peratallada 24 Girona 36 Bellver de Cerdanya

Leisure and activities Leisure activities Cultural activities > Monuments > Romanic

 Romanic

1 Sant Pere de Rodes Monastery 2 Sta. Maria de Vilabertran Church 3 St. Feliu de Guíxols Monastery 4 Old centre of Besalú 5 Old centre of Sta. Pau 6 Sta. Maria de Porqueres Church 7 Old centre of Girona 8 Molló Church 9 St. Cristòfor de Baget Church 10 Llanars Church 11 St. Joan de les Abadesses Monastery 12 Sta. Maria de Ripoll Monastery

Cultural activities > Monuments > Gothic

 Gothic

1 Peralada Castel 2 Convent del Carmen (Peralada) 3 Sta. Maria Basilica (Castelló d'Emp.) 4 Old centre of St. Martí d'Empúries 5 St. Genís Church (Torroella de M.) 6 Castle del Montgrí 7 Old centre of Peratallada 8 Old centre of Pals 9 Girona Cathedral 10 St. Domènec Convent (Girona)

Cultural activities > Monuments > Baroque

 Baroque

1 Cadaqués Church 2 Ciudadela de Roses 3 Palamós Church 4 Lloret de Mar Church 5 Girona Cathedral 6 Convent del Carmen (Olot) 7 St. Jaume Hospital (Olot)

Cultural activities > Monuments > Modernism

 Modernism 1 Casa Serinyena (Cadaqués) 2 Casa Salleres (Figueres) 3 Casa Cusí (Figueres) 4 Armstrong Factory (Palafrugell) 5 Casino dels Nois (St. Feliu de Guíxols) 6 Casa Masó (Girona) 7 Casa Ensesa (Girona) 8 La Punxa (Girona) 9 Vichy Catalán Resort (Caldes de Malavella) 10 Casa Masramon (Olot) 11 Casa Solà Morales (Olot) 12 Casal (Camprodon) 13 Casa Bonada (Ripoll) 14 St. Miquel de la Roqueta (Ripoll)

Cultural activities > Museums and archaeology

 Museums  Archaeology 1 Dali House-Museum (Portlligat) 1 Megalithic Monuments (Sierra of 2 Dali Theatre Museum (Figueres) l'Albera) 3 Catalonia Toy Museum (Figueres) 2 Greco-Roman City (Emoúries) 4 Gala Castle (Púbol) 3 Ibero Site (Ullastret) 5 Art Museum (Girona) 4 Cova d'en Daina Dolmen (Romanyà 6 Archaeological Museum (Girona) de la Selva) 7 Cathedral Museum (Girona) 5 Prehistoric Caves Park (Serinyà) 8 History Museum (Girona) 9 Film Museum (Girona) 10 Garrotxa Comarca Museum (Olot)

Caracteristics El Forn Description

The rural farm of El Forn is situated on the south side of Estela Sierra, and stretches from its range to the channel of Mas Camps, with some moderately steep slopes facing mainly south and east.

The farm has a total area of 178.15 hectares (1,781,500 m2), formed by areas of pine forest, oak woods and mixed forest of pine and holm oak. The farm also contains a series of cultivated fields covering 14 hectares (140,000 m2).

The built area of El Forn is formed by a central section with a main house, a guest house, a large shed and other facilities. The farm also contains a total of seven old farm houses which conserve their structure with functional access via the farm roads. El Forn has a Technical Plan for Forest Management and Improvement, approved by the Administration (number 804) and recently revised, which sets out the improvements and working of the farm for the next 10 years.

According to the forest inventory taken for the preparation of the Technical Plan, the holm oak cover is 20%, with an average density of 297 feet/ha, average height of 3.4 meters, and a timber volume of 9.36 m3/ha. As the farm’s most representative species, the white pine has an average cover of 60%, an average density of 463 feet/ha and an average height of 6.2 metros, with a timber volume of 42.35 m3/ha.

Caracteristics El Forn Hunting and roads

La farm is part of a game reserve.

El Forn has a network of main, secondary and logging roads which interconnect the entire property. Over 30 km of roads have been built on the farm, a density of over 165 meters/hectare.

Caracteristics El Forn Catalogued farmhouses > El Forn

Location On a private enclosed farm to the north of the locality of Vilarig. Coordinates UTM x=484689 y=4683783.

Description Construction of irregular plan and volumetrics due to adaptation to the land. It has two storeys and one semi-sunken floor. Main facade of porch. Pitched roof slope. - Exterior materials: stone walls, wood carpentry and Arab-tile roof. - State of conservation: very good. - Current use: home. - Accessibility: forest trail in good state. - Existing services: overhead electricity network, water well, agricultural plantations.

Justification for the recovery and preservation The building is part of the rural landscape of the territory.

Alternations and extensions The primary criterion is to preserve the original character of the building and not spoil its characteristics. - Works of internal alternations and extensions to adapt the building to a new use are permitted. - Increases in the height of the original volumes are only permitted to achieve minimal conditions of habitability. - The extensions needed to return the building to its original state are permitted, which will have to demonstrated. - Any works that require changes in volume, roofs, facades, veneers, openings, rails, chimneys, fences, etc. must, as already mentioned, preserve the original character of the building without spoiling the characteristics and be adapted to the requirements and determinations of the applicable sectoral regulations.

Admitted uses Permitted uses: family home, hotel excluding the modality of aparthotel, rural tourism establishment and education activities in free tim.

Caracteristics El Forn Catalogued farmhouses > New house in El Forn

Location On a private enclosed farm to the north of the locality of Vilarig.

Description Small construction formed by the joining of two very small sections. Rectangular plan, one storey. With a small entrance porch. Asymmetric pitched roof. - External materials: walls partially roughcast and painted, Arab-tile roof. - State of conservation: building recently formed. - Current use: residential. - Existing services: well water, overhead electricity network.

Justification for the recovery and preservation The existing building is destined for rural housing.

Alternations and extensions Internal alterations and extensions to adapt the building to a new use are permitted.

Admitted uses Use for single-family homes and education activities in free time are permitted.

Caracteristics El Forn Catalogued farmhouses > Ca l’Andreu

Location On a private enclosed farm to the north of the locality of Vilarig. Coordenates UTM x=484613 y=4683353.

Description Remains of a small building of rectangular plan with two storeys. - External materials: stone walls and wood lintels. - State of conservation: building in ruins with hanging vegetation. - Current use: in disuse.